Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kayteemk]

Has anyone else gotten their visa through the mail while living here in the United States?
I ask because the Korean Consulate will need my original degree, according to their website. However, my recruiter also needs my degree (and will accept a copy that has been notarized by the Korean consulate, but is really chomping at the bit and not giving me time to figure out how to get this done). I take it they (SMOE or whoever is getting it) will not get it back to me until I am there in person. I guess I am just wondering why I am submitting this stuff to my recruiter in order to get a visa when I need to submit all of this to the embassy in my country in order to do the same thing. I have e-mailed my recruiter in order to try and figure this out, but her answers have seemed somewhat vague so just thought I would toss it out there and see how the pros weigh in.

Thanks everyone,
Katie

[kat2]

OK, so there are basically two steps to getting your visa.

1) your employer applies at Korean immigration. They will need your degree, sealed transcripts, pictures, resume, contract, etc.

2) After about a week or two, immigration will give your employer a visa issuance number. You take your passport (or mail it ) to a Korean consulate with the number and a few pics. They put the visa in your passport. You don't need the transcripts, degree, contract, etc for this part

Probably wehn you have been contacting with your local korean consulate they have been giving you the steps for #1. But in 99.9% of teacher's cases, the employer takes care of this. You only have to do step2.
So, you do need to mail everything to your recruiter and let them give it to the employer who will apply at immi for you.
Does that make sense? It can be pretty confusing the first time you do it.

[kayteemk]

Ah...that makes perfect sense. Thanks so much for clueing in a newbie.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I was told the same thing when I had sent my original degree to Korea. After I got my issuance # I sent that, my passport, and the application +money to the Korean Consulate (Houston). There was a slight delay because they needed a copy of my degree or transcripts anyway!!

You'd better call them and ask just to avoid any potential delays. I ended up faxing them a copy. btw, it's always a good idea to have a scanned pdf of your degree. You never know when you might need it.

[icicle]